In Search of the Novel:Teacher-TalkNovel

Teacher-TalkNovel is the email discussion list for In
Search of the Novel. Participants of the workshop series, content
guides, and Channel staff will participate in this discussion list
throughout the initial broadcast of the workshop series.

Use this space as an area to share and pose questions
about the workshop series, get to know your colleagues, as well as
ask questions about technical and access issues.

In my intership classes the students are reading "The Giver" and my
supervising teacher has chosen to use a tape of the book and have the
students follow along in the reading. I've noticed a few things about using
a tape recording of the book, one being that it allows the teacher to have
control of the classroom. She's doesn't have to sit in one place, she can
circulate through the classroom and redirect students that may not be on
task, and she can see everything that is going on. Also, the students seem
to enjoy it much more than when they read "round-robin" style. The pace is
set and the voice on the tape has expressions in its voice. I've noticed
kids reading along with the tape, who more than likely wouldn't read aloud
in front of the class.

> We must also keep in mind that not all students will be as passionate
about
> literature as we are, and are only reading because they know they hafta. > If by enlivening the senses, we can tap into how the disinterested
student
> absorbs information, then perhaps we can engage them in the reading > process.>

This is a good point, Kris. My supervising teacher made a great comment
early on in my internship. We were discussing YA books and she was saying
that most of her kids said that they "hate" to read. She responds to that
with "If you don't like a particular TV show, you don't say you hate TV.
You
just don't like to read because you haven't found the right channel yet." I
think that is a great way to make kids think differently about reading.
Michelle Burt